Chapter 11: A Chance Meeting

Teddy rubbed the back of his neck and then stretched out his sour muscles.

He was back on the roof with David, covering up the last of the holes that opened into the attic. Just in time too, the storm looked ready to burst any minute now.

"I'm going to take a break and then go finish painting the bedrooms on the third floor," David told him while wiping the sweat off his brow with his rag.

"I think Tess said she was going to help you," Teddy said dropping his hammer into the toolbox before taking out his phone.

He sent a quick text to Tess to let her know David was going to help her paint. David was already climbing down into the attic through the skylight. Teddy took a moment to do a quick search for any forgotten tools.

The weathervane creaked softly as it spun in a slow circle. Teddy glanced up at the sky again watching the clouds move slowly by, heavy with rain. He bent down and took his notebook out of the toolbox.

He found a spot to sit by one of the five chimneys and clicked open his pen.

Caroline stood under the awning of Mrs. Hemmer's store....

A drop of rain fell on Teddy's hand. It ran down the back of his hand before falling on to the page, smudging Mrs. Hemmer's name.

More rain began to fall, forcing Teddy to scramble to his feet and run for the skylight. He dropped his toolbox in first, hearing it thud on the floor before jumping into the attic himself.

He pulled the skyline closed just in time as the storm released a torrent of rain. The droplets prattled loudly on the glass window and the roof. Teddy saw the flash of lightening followed by the rumbling of thunder.

He became very grateful to David at that moment for suggesting using the skylight to access the roof instead of the ladder Teddy had been using earlier.

The attic was rather empty beside a few cardboard boxes shoved into the corner. His phone started to buzz as the people he had hired to replace the titles of the roof told him they would not be coming in today. Teddy was not surprised. Oh well, it looks like he was going to have the rest of the day off.

He dialed Julie's number wanting to know how close she was to the house, but his call went straight to voicemail.

Teddy pocketed his phone with the intent to call again later.

He sat down next to the wall and took a flashlight out of the toolbox. He wanted to write with no interruptions, and he found the best way to do that was to write in places no one would think of looking for him.

Eagerly, he clicked his pen once more and resumed his writing.

It was raining, keeping Caroline trapped under the shelter of the awning.

She was not to upset by her situation because she enjoyed the excuse to enjoy the rain. The sweet smell that it brought with it and the way it turned everything a vivid green. It gave her a sense of calm. Lord knowing, she needed some calmness right now.

She switched the brown bags full of fabrics and blue ribbon from her right hand to her left. Her mother had wanted to make a new Sunday dress for Elizabeth. If there was any material left over perhaps a second dress for her daily activities.

The little bell above the door jingled as Mrs. Hemmer stuck her head out.

"You should come in Miss Caroline, you might catch a fever in this cold," she cautioned.

Caroline smiled at the tiny woman. "Thank you for your concern but I think it is about to stop."

Mrs. Hemmer stepped out to watch the rain fall.

"I don't believe it shall stop anytime soon, Miss. Caroline. It would be better for you to wait in doors."

Caroline shook her head, "No, I think I will risk it. It does not look heavy enough to do me any harm."

"Unless you are under it," Mrs. Hemmer scolded while throwing a worry look down the street.

Caroline figured she was worrying about the river over-flooding.

"I don't think we have much to worry about that," she consoled the woman. "It has been a rather dry month. Perhaps the flooding won't be as bad this year."

"It takes just one good storm," Mrs. Hemmer told her.

"I guess it does," Caroline said before stepping out from under the awning and into the rain.

Mrs. Hemmer's words prove true as Caroline went to the end of the block. The rain suddenly increased and felt like tiny pebbles on the back of her neck.

She lowered her face to it and held her bags close to her chest. She pushed on but after a few more steps she became aware of another sound over the prattling of rain. Looking up in alarm, she was in time to see large carriage barreling towards her.

Caroline cried out in alarm and pressed herself against the side of the butcher shop as the carriage cantered past her. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the carriage just inches away from her face. It was over in seconds, the carriage continuing down the road and turning the corner.

Caroline took a deep breath trying to steady her hands before stepping away from the wall.

"They were in a hurry," Caroline said angry at their recklessness.

"Caroline?"

Charlotte stood in the doorway of the shop, holding the door open.

"Why are you standing in the rain?" she asked.

"I'm trying, rather unsuccessfully, to get out of it," Caroline said as she pushed past Charlotte to get into the butcher shop.

She set her bags down on the counter near the scale. There was another door that led to the backroom. She could hear the heavy 'thunk' of a knife cutting through the tight flesh of a dead pig.

"Father is in the back," Charlotte said closing the door with a shudder. "I hate seeing him cut up those poor dead animals. I am very glad that he has me working at the counter."

"That reminds me, mother wants me to buy a pound of-"

"Pork?" Charlotte guessed. "Mr. Dunches was here earlier and bought some."

"Oh, good, that was the last thing I had to get," Caroline said relieved. "Now, I just have to wait for the rain to stop so I can go home.

The rain drummed on the roof but as Caroline listened, she thought it sounded like it was slowing down.

"I think it is finally over," she said looking hopefully out the window.

Charlotte joined her and shook her head.

"I wouldn't trust it," she said. "Do you want to come upstairs and have a cup of tea? I have already put the kettle on the stove. And it will give you a chance to dry your clothes."

Caroline thought for a moment then smiled, "I have already finished my errands. I might as well as enjoy a cup of tea."

The cup tea ended up becoming a several hours long conversation with Charlotte of town gossip.

The rain had stopped by then and the clouds had begun to separate into small cotton ball shapes as the sun began to set.

Caroline walked down the street once more holding her bags to her side. The fabric was still a little damp and the paper bag was beginning to tear along the side.

"Hello Miss Caroline," the baker said as she passed. "Out for a moonlight walk?"

"Hello, and no, I'm not. I'm on my way home," She told him.

She heard the clicking of the lock as the baker turned the key.

"I will see you tomorrow at church," he said as he put his hat on before locking his store doors.

"Don't forget we are having the picnic after the service," Caroline reminded him.

"I won't forget."

He waved good-bye as he started walking home in the opposite direction of Caroline.

Caroline reached the center of town where a small pine tree had managed to start growing several years ago. Beneath the tree was a bench for the weary to sit on. It reminded her of the weeping willow in her backyard.

Her mother's garden was a much prettier place to sit but the bags felt heavy and Caroline sat down on the bench to rest.

The sun had long since set and the streetlamps had been lit. It was only two oil lights set on opposite side of the street.

"Mother will not be happy that I'm out late again," Caroline sighed as she sat down.

She did not mean to take so long in picking out the fabrics. Maybe if she had been quicker, she would have missed the rain and be at home right now.

It seemed that lately, she was becoming slower and tiring easily. She felt like an old woman and might as well be. She was already twenty and still not married. It was not like she was unattractive, but who would want a sickly wife? One that would probably die if she did try to bear a child.

Maybe if her parents had wealth or a greater status-

Teddy paused, looking up from his notebook.

He thought he had heard something.

He looked over the attic, searching for the source of the sound. Maybe David was coming to see if he had gotten off the roof.

A mouse scurried out of the shadows, running over his shoe.

Teddy watched the furry creature disappear into the crack in the wall next to him.

"Great, now we have rodents," he sighed getting up. "Maybe I should buy a cat or two."

He closed his notebook and looked up at the skylight above him. The rain was slowed to a drizzle, but he could see lightening flickering far above.

Yawning, Teddy stood up and stretched. It was starting to get cold and he did not want to stick around and see exactly how many mice lived in his attic.

He made it to the door when he remembered his toolbox and had to go back for it.

The house was quiet as he descended the stairs. Which was not usual since it was too big for the few people that were currently living in it. It made it easy to hear the creaks and groans that the house emitted. It almost sounded like something was moving behind the walls.

He could hear Tess as he went down the stairs, singing to herself some nursery rhyme.

"There was a crooked man," she was singing. "Who walked a crooked mile."

"Hey Tess, is there any coffee left?" he interrupted her.

"Yes, but it's cold."

Teddy looked at the coffee in disappointment.

"Do you want some hot chocolate?" Tess offered. "I just boiled the water."

Teddy nodded taking a mug from the cupboard. Tess handed him the hot chocolate mix and he thanked her.

"Where were you?" Tess asked. "I was looking for you earlier."

"I was in the attic taking a few minutes to write down some ideas for a story," Teddy told her. "Did you need something?"

"No, I just wanted to let you know that Billy and Carol are taking care of those dead light bulbs in the catacombs."

"Okay, thanks. Oh, and go ahead and take the rest of the day off," Teddy said. "No one is showing up because of the rain."

"Goodie," Tess said happily. "I don't know what I'm going to do but I'll find something."

Teddy wished her luck and went to his study. He sat down at his desk and then opened his notebook to re-read what he had written.

It was alright, he guessed. He scratched out a few sentences and wrote a quick note next to other sentence. He briefly thought he should be working on his aunt's book but clicked his pen and started to write again.

Caroline sighed and looked around the street. It was empty with everyone in doors enjoying their supper. She could see dark shapes moving about the homes around her. All the shades had been pulled and the lamps lit.

Evergreen rose with the sun but hid away when it set.

Caroline knew she should also return to her home but instead she tilted her head back and watched the stars appear. Her fingers closed around the ring hanging on her neck as her thoughts turned to Danial. Was he looking at the same stars? Was it a calm night for him? Or was there the sounds of gunfire and cannon fire keeping him up?

The war had become worse in the last months. Casualties had risen and already a few mothers were wearing black and grieving alongside the newly made widows.

News traveled painfully slow. If anything had happened to Danial, she would not know about it until many months later. She withdrew from her pocket Danial's latest letter. The post had delivered this afternoon even though the letter was dated almost four months ago.

Caroline turned the letter over in her hands and could not help but think that this might be the last letter she received from him. He could even be dead right now.

There was a coffee stain splattered across the back of the envelope and a scent of salt was embedded into the paper.

She broke the seal and slid the letter out. There was enough moon light for her to just read the letter.

8/28/xx

Dearest Caroline,

Of late my thoughts have been significantly more upon you than ever before. I find myself fighting off despair by trying to remember the times I have spent with you. The war and the fights I have been through has been brutal. I don't wish to tell you more about it. To share the horrors that I have seen. But the memories consume me. Even in moments of peace I can still hear gun shots and the screams of the dying. And even when it does become quiet the silence presses on me with such a heavy weight that I cannot describe. It puts me on edge as if I am expecting an ambush. I have killed people, Caroline. I did not want to tell you. But I cannot keep it to myself either. I know you will think less of me. Maybe hate me. But their faces haunt me. Torment me. In my dreams, when I do manage to sleep, to when I am wake. I see them Caroline. I continuously see them. I do not want to continue to be haunted by them. I pray for forgiveness. I pray and pray but I have never found any. How can I be forgiven? I have killed someone. Not once. Too many times. Their faces blur together. I cannot remember them all. The guilt is too much-

Caroline lowered the letter and stared straight ahead, shocked by what she had read.

The darkness seemed to close in more tightly as Danial's words echoed in her head. The pain he must be in!

Caroline grasped the ring tighter, lost at what to do but desperate to do something. She could hear Danial crying out to her across the ocean for help and she could not go to him. All she could do was write but it would be months before her letter would reach Danial. And what could she even say to him?

She lifted the letter again and quickly re-read it a second time. The sudden way the letter ended made her think Danial could not bring himself to finish it or at least sign his name.

She re-read it again and again. Still lost at what to do.

"Miss Caroline?"

Caroline looked up, astonished that there was someone else out at this time. Hunter stood a few feet from her holding up a lantern. He was wearing a traveler's coat and Caroline guessed he was either leaving or just returning from some trip out of town. But she didn't see his coach or heard a horse nearby.

"I was not expecting to meet anyone at this late hour," she said surprise.

"Neither was I," Hunter said lowering the lantern down.

"I was on my way home when I-stop to look at the stars," she said as she folded Danial's letter up in three folds.

As Hunter came closer to the bench Caroline was surprise to see there were deep lines etched under Hunter's eyes. He looked sickly as she notices his skin had even taken on a more grayish tone. For a moment Caroline thought he also had fallen ill or maybe it was simply a trick of the light.

"It is danger to be out this late," Hunter told her.

Caroline could not help but laugh.

"Evergreen is never dangerous. Night or day," she chortled. "I don't think we even had a murder or any serious crime. Except for the occasional pickpocket or vandalism but our little jailhouse is never occupied."

"Still, any place can change," Hunter said softly and for some reason Caroline shuddered.

Perhaps he was right. She had felt a certain atmosphere of fear creeping into her little town as more and more people became sick. No one was calling it the flu now, but no one wanted to be the first to say they fear it might be the beginnings of a plague.

"Have you come back from a long trip?" Caroline asked wanting to change the subject.

"Not far," Hunter said vaguely. "I was returning to my home when I saw you. You seemed to be distraught over something."

Caroline's hand squeezed tighter around her letter, still frustrated she could not comfort Danial.

"And I was congratulating myself for doing a fine job of hiding it," she said releasing the letter.

"Oh, you were," Hunter assured her, "but you have been twisting that piece paper since I have come over. You seem to want to tear it up. I can conclude that is the cause of your distress?"

Caroline nodded, "in a way, it is. It is from my childhood friend. He is struggling with his duties conflicting with his morals. I find myself unable to help even though he writes to me begging for it."

She held out the letter to Hunter. "How can I answer such a letter?" she asked as he took it from her.

His fingers brushed against hers and she felt how cold his skin was. She did not think nothing of it but instead watched Hunter's face as he read the letter, his eyes slowly going over it. His face devoid of any signs of what he was thinking of. It was an expression she became accustomed to when she spoke to him.

"He is very guarded. With a great care of his words, as if afraid it will reveal something about him," she once told her mother.

"It sounds like Hunter is not a very honest person," her mother had replied.

"Or he's hiding something," Caroline added, her curiosity pricked then as it was now, but she did not indulge her interest as her thoughts once more turned to Danial.

She could almost see him as he wrote this letter.

She wondered if he had been sober when started to compose his letter or had his grief really been too much for him to contain?

Hunter looked up at her, lowering the letter as he did.

"I don't think your friend meant to send this to you," he said.

"I agree," Caroline said guessing that was why it had not been sign. "But he has, and I must send a response and soon."

Hunter did not reply but sat down next to her. Caroline moved her bags to her feet to make more room.

"I see why you are at a loss," he said returning the letter to her.

Caroline returned the letter to its envelope and then, absentmindedly, reached for her ring.

"Is this Danial your betrothal?" he guessed.

"He is," Caroline answered looking down at the ring in the middle of her palm. "But we have been friends since we were children."

She smiled and said, "we used to dare each other to go into the Burgin's house and see if we could meet any of the ghosts."

"And did you?"

Caroline shook her head, "None that were real."

The candlelight flicker about in their class cage as a wind picked up.

Caroline inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of wet earth and the rain that linger in the air. She started to shiver as the temperature begin to drop.

"It will be cold tonight," Hunter told her as he looked up at the sky.

Caroline agreed still watching the firelight. She should return home soon. She should go now. To be out this late and alone with a man, well, her mother will be ashamed of her.

She was about to get up to leave when Hunter spoke up, "I would advise you to choose your words carefully when you respond to your friend's letter. Be comforting and remind him the guilt will be something he will always carry though it does become bearable if he remembers why he fights in this war and it is not only for the king."

Caroline looked at him hopefully, "Do you think he is strong enough to bear it?"

Hunter looked at her, his face still a mask. "I would not be the one to know that."

Caroline looked down the street, wrapping her arms around her against the cold.

"I am afraid Danial might not be," she confessed.

It hurt her to say it. She felt a wild panic build within her. A crazy desire to stand up and run to Danial. To hold onto him. To tell him he was not alone. That she would be there for him and that she would help him carry this burden.

"Then give him a reason to," Hunter told her taking her hand. "Remind him you are waiting for him to return to you. You are here for him and he is not as alone as he believes he is."

Caroline nodded, feeling a small amount of hope breaking through her panic.

"I will. Thank you."

Hunter nodded and let go of her hand. Caroline glanced down at her hand surprise, wondering why Hunter's hand had not warmed hers.

"I should return home," she finally said.

"If you don't mind, I would like to escort you to your house," Hunter offered. "I am afraid I do not share your trust of your hometown."

Caroline looked at him unsure.

"Only up to the church," she said. "I do not want to give my parent's reason to doubt me."

Hunter nodded, understanding, and offer her his arm. Caroline excepted it and they continue down the path that lead to the outskirts of Evergreen.

Caroline struggled to see despite Hunter's lantern. The tiny light did little to show the fallen tree branches that nearly cause Caroline to trip several times. She clung tighter to Hunter's arm noticing he was having an easier time finding his way.

As her eyes adjusted, she was able to make out the dark form of her father's church ahead of them. There was a soft creaking sound as the gate moved back and forth, pushed by the wind.

Caroline reached for the gate, pulling it closed before locking it with the latch. She then saw a small moving light in one of the windows. Her father must still be preparing for tomorrow serves.

The light vanished as Mr. Dunches moved into another room.

She continued with more of hurry, hoping to reach her home before her father saw her. In her haste she forgot she had told Hunter he could only escort her to the church.

After they passed the church, and with Hunter still guiding her, it was only another few minutes before they arrived at Caroline's home. The house was dark except for a light in the kitchen window. Her mother always left a light on when her father was out late. She probably thought Caroline was with him and gone to bed without a care.

Caroline paused on the path that led up to the front door, turning to Hunter. "Thank you-" she started to say when out of the woods a wolf ran out. Its white coat seemed to glow in the darkness.

The wolf stopped a few feet from them, breathing heavily with exhaustion as its tongue lolled out of its month, close to the ground. Blood stuck to its fur coat, trailing down its side.

Then more wolves came running through the brush and out of the woods. They ran around the white wolf to avoid hitting him. The white one quickly stood and ran after his pack back into the woods.

"Why are there wolves here?" Caroline asked alarmed as the last wolf vanished back into the woods.

She could hear them tearing through the forest. A patch of birds flew into the sky cawing in fear and anger.

"Perhaps they are hunting," Hunter suggested after it became quiet again.

"I have never seen so many wolves in these forests," Caroline insisted. "They are more northward towards the hills."

"It seems your town is changing," Hunter said, and Caroline laughed.

"If you excuse me ma'am," Hunter told her. "I should also be returning to my house."

"Thank you again for escorting me to my home," Caroline thanked him.

Hunter bowed his head and continued down the path to the Burgen's house while Caroline hurried inside.

She opened the door as quiet as she could and then crept up the stairs, taking great care not to awake her mother.

When she made it into her room, she lit the candle on her writing desk and took out a piece of paper and her ink well.

10/14/xx

Dear Danial,

Your most recent letter has troubled me greatly. I am sorry that I did not respond as quickly as I should, but I needed to take some time to reflect on what you wrote. I wish I could write something that would remove the pain you are going through. But sadly, I am unable to find those words that would bring you comfort. I am only left with a few sentences to remind you the reason you are fighting. The reason you fight and kill. Not just because of orders you were given but because you are protecting your home and those you care for. I cannot hate a man who would willing sacrifice himself for others and what he believes in.

You are a good man, Danial. Not the monster you paint yourself to be. I have known you since we were children and I know there is nothing wicked in your heart. There are people here waiting for you to return to them. I, your mother, your father, and your sister. We are waiting and we pray for safety daily.

Do not fall into despair Danial. Fight on and then return home to us.

Forever your dearest friend,

Caroline

Caroline set the pen down hoping her letter would help Danial.

She sealed the letter in an envelope and left it on the desk with the intent to send it the following morning.

The hour was now very late, and she quickly changed to her night gown.

She pulled back the covers of her bed before blowing out the candle. A thin trail of smoke floated upwards into the dark

As she climbed into bed, she realized how stuffy the room was and got back out of bed with a sigh.

Her room was on the second floor of her house on the side that faced the forest and often was the warmest room in the house.

She pulled back the curtains and opened the window. The moonlight illuminated the backyard and the outline of the forest. She could see something moving along the edge of the light.

A deer or maybe a wolf.

Caroline tried to see what it was, but it was too well hidden in the shadows.

She gave up after she succumbed to a yawn and returned to her bed, leaving the window open.

Moments later she fell asleep but it was short lived as she suddenly awoke – subconsciously aware there was someone very close to her, leaning over her.

Before she could be alarmed, she heard a sound. A whisper of a word she did not know but instantly felt overwhelmed with exhaustion. Her thoughts full of a thick fog that block the sense of alarm that was trying to awake her. Her eyes became too heavy to keep open but something told her she must not fall asleep. She had to fight to stay awake.

The person leaned even closer and gently brushed her hair off her face.

She tried to move, sensing danger, but everything was too muddled.

Something pierced into her neck. It did not hurt, only slightly stung, but then it was followed almost instantly by a strange numbness that spread to the rest of her. Crawling up her face and down her right arm.

In the fog of her mind, Caroline was desperately fighting to move. To do something.

She managed only to raise her hand a up a bit. It was too heavy, and her arm fell on top of the nightstand.

She could feel the tip of her fingers brushing against her writing pen.

She focused all her will on reaching out and grabbed the pen. Ignoring the stinging pain in her neck or the person hunched, she focused everything into moving her fingers.

As the numbness spread up her arm, she felt the solidness of the pen and held tightly to it. In a moment of wild panic, she focused everything into lifting her arm one more time and plunging the pointed tip of the pen down on the person on top of her.

Something sliced across her neck and then the person cried out in pain, no longer on her.

There was a loud crashing sound followed by glass shattering on the floor.

Caroline forced her eyes open. She was no longer felt overcome with exhaustion, but the strange numbness continued to freeze up her limbs.

There was someone else in her room. Or two or three. Or a hundred.

Dizziness made her see triple the amount. They were moving everywhere as the room spun around her. The bed tip back and forth and the room span faster.

Caroline felt sick to her stomach.

More glass shattered as the room tip forward and her desk went flying to the wall. The ink well that she had left on the desk splatter across the wall.

She heard her mother scream while her father heavy footsteps raced up the stairs. Somewhere, Elizabeth started to cry and call for her mother.

Caroline fell forward, falling off the bed. The covers twisting around her body as she fell to the floor. She felt sick and shut her eyes tightly against the spinning but continue to feel the word to twist and bend. Turning this way and that.

There was silences now. Maybe because there was nothing left to break in her room, but the silences were broken once more as her bedroom door banged opened and her father came running in.

Caroline remains on the floor unable to move. For a moment, there was another sharp pain but this time it was in her chest and Caroline blacked out as her father reached her.